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Overview
This range of teacher-supported language courses will help you learn Dutch online.
You'll be taught individually, via a video-conferencing platform, with your own personal tutor.
You can take this course from anywhere in the world.
In addition to beginner, intermediate and advanced-level language classes, you can also develop reading skills in specialised forms of Dutch, e.g. Early Modern Dutch, Business Dutch and Medical Dutch.
Dutch is the official language of the Netherlands and Belgium (Flanders).
These courses are run by the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education (CLIE).
Available online courses
- Beginners Dutch
In Beginners 1 and Beginners 2 you'll learn the skills you need to speak, read, write and understand basic Dutch in a range of practical everyday contexts.
No previous knowledge of Dutch is required for Beginners 1.
For Beginners 2 you'll need to have completed Beginners 1 or have a starting level of Dutch comparable to level A1 as defined by the Council of Europe (CEFR).
The learning outcomes for Beginners 1 are equivalent to level A1, and to level A2 for Beginners 2.
These courses are an excellent preparation for the Basisexamen Inburgering (Dutch Civic Integration Examination).
Read more about the Online Beginners Dutch Language Courses on the CLIE website.
- Intermediate Dutch
Intermediate 1 and Intermediate 2 will help you consolidate your knowledge of Dutch and extend your language skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing on an intermediate level. You'll also study the culture of Dutch and Flemish societies.
Intermediate 1 is for those who've successfully completed Beginners 2 or who have a similar linguistic standard, equivalent to level A2. To take Intermediate 2 you need to have completed Intermediate 1 or have a level B1.
The learning outcomes for Intermediate 1 are equivalent to level B1, and to level B2 for Intermediate 2.
The Intermediate courses allow you to reach the language standard required to take the Dutch NT2 Staatsexamens Nederlands als Tweede Taal (Dutch as a Second Language) or the Belgian (Flemish) Certificaat Nederlands als Vreemde Taal (Certificate Dutch as a Foreign Language).
Read more about the Online Intermediate Dutch Language Courses on the CLIE website.
- Advanced Dutch
Advanced 1, which is taught entirely in Dutch, further develops your language skills of reading, listening, writing and speaking on an advanced and academic level (C1).
You'll also develop your knowledge of the culture, society and history of the Netherlands and Flanders. Course themes range from the Dutch and Belgian colonial past to the modern-day multicultural societies of the Low Countries.
The course is aimed at those who've completed Intermediate 2 or who have a similar language standard, comparable to level B2.
Read more about the Online Advanced Dutch Language Course on the CLIE website.
- Business Dutch
This course will help you build up your reading knowledge of Dutch so that you can read the business pages of Dutch and Flemish newspapers and magazines.
The course consists of two parts:
- a general module, with 20 lessons, taught in English and covering general texts on economic and social aspects of the Low Countries
- a specialist module, with 10 lessons, taught entirely in Dutch and covering more specialised texts on finance, business, entrepreneurship and insurance
It can be taken by those with no or minimal knowledge of the language.
Read more about the Online Business Dutch Course on the CLIE website.
- Medical Dutch
This course is for health professionals intending to work or study in the Netherlands or Belgium.
You’ll need to already have an intermediate level of proficiency in Dutch (equivalent to level B1 / B1+ as defined by the Council of Europe).
The course will help you:
- communicate both orally and in writing in a wide range of medical contexts and situations
- understand, assess and discuss scientific, medical or clinical texts and cases
- have effective Dutch academic writing and communication skills that will help you advance in the medical profession or help with your degree course
Read more about the Online Medical Dutch Course on the CLIE website.
- Early Modern Dutch Reading Skills
This course is designed to give you the skills you need to read early modern Dutch and Flemish texts (i.e. the language of the Golden Age of the Netherlands and Flanders in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries).
The course consists of multiple modules which can be studied individually or as 'packages' depending on your interests or your starting knowledge of Dutch or Early Modern Dutch.
It's open to those with both prior or no knowledge of Dutch.
Read more about the Online Early Modern Dutch Courses on the CLIE website.
Note: the beginners and intermediate courses include two levels, e.g. Beginners Dutch 1 and 2.
Teaching and structure
All courses are taught online via a video-conferencing platform (e.g. Microsoft Teams, Skype) on a one-to-one basis, i.e. you'll be taught individually by your personal tutor.
Classes last one hour and can take place at any time (day or evening). You'll agree a time with your tutor that suits you both.
All course materials are accessible online and downloadable. All exercises and tasks will be corrected by your personal tutor.
Course length
Course length varies (with some courses available as a shorter, intensive version), as follows:
- Beginners, intermediate and advanced-level language courses run over 12 weeks
- Beginners and intermediate courses are also offered as intensive courses of 6 weeks
- The Business Dutch course is taught over 20 weeks
- The Medical Dutch course is taught over 12 weeks
- The Early Modern Dutch Course varies in length from 5 to 30 weeks, depending on which modules you want to take
Course materials
Once your registration is complete, your tutor will contact you and you'll receive an individual log-in and password to access the course materials. You'll continue to have access to the course materials after completing it.
Certificates
On successful completion of the course you'll receive a UCL Completion Certificate.
Who these courses are for
All courses are aimed at candidates worldwide who:
- are self motivated and enjoy distance learning
- are capable and independent language learners
- have an interest in the Netherlands and Belgium
Costs
Fees are as follows:
Beginners courses
- Beginners Dutch 1 (12 weeks) - £595
- Intensive Beginners Dutch 1 (6 weeks) - £595
- Beginners Dutch 2 (12 weeks) - £595
- Intensive Beginners Dutch 2 (6 weeks) - £595
- (Package) Beginners 1 and 2 (24 weeks) - £1,100
- (Package) Intensive Beginners 1 and 2 (12 weeks) - £1,100
Intermediate courses
- Intermediate Dutch 1 (12 weeks) - £595
- Intensive Intermediate Dutch 1 (6 weeks) - £595
- Intermediate Dutch 2 (12 weeks) - £595
- Intensive Intermediate Dutch 2 (6 weeks) - £595
- (Package) Intermediate 1 and 2 (24 weeks) - £1,100
- (Package) Intensive Intermediate 1 and 2 (12 weeks) - £1,100
Advanced courses
- Advanced Dutch (12 weeks) - £850
Specialist courses
- Business Dutch (20 weeks) - £864
- Medical Dutch (12 weeks) - £899
- Early Modern Dutch: General and Specialist Modules (20 weeks) - £1,068
- Early Modern Dutch: General, Specialist and 18th Century Modules (25 weeks) - £1,344
- Early Modern Dutch: General, Specialist, 18th century and Manuscript Modules (30 weeks) - £1,518
- Early Modern Dutch: Specialist Module (10 weeks) - £564
- Early Modern Dutch: Specialist and 18th Century Modules (15 weeks) - £798
- Early Modern Dutch: Specialist, 18th Century and Manuscript Modules (20 weeks) - £1,068
- Early Modern Dutch: Manuscript Module (5 weeks) - £402
Further information
For more detailed information about the different classes available, visit the CLIE website.
Course team
An
An studied at Brussels University (BA), Queen Mary and Westfield College, London (MA) and UCL, where she obtained her PhD in Dutch Language and Literature in 2003. Since 2004 she's been developing online Dutch study materials (UCL, Sheffield University) and started teaching Dutch online at BA and MA level at UCL in 2009. She also has wide experience in teaching secondary school students, as she acts as the principal examiner of Dutch for the International Baccalaureate Diploma programme. Her interests include bilingualism, online language learning and Early Modern Dutch.
Linda
Linda studied at the University of Amsterdam (MA) and at King’s College London (PGCE Modern Foreign Languages, 2010). Since 2011 she has been teaching Dutch at the UCL Centre of Languages and International Education. She's gained wide experience of teaching Dutch to students of diverse ages and backgrounds. She acts as an External Examiner of Dutch for the University of Manchester and also teaches part-time at a Sixth Form College in London.
"My online Dutch course through UCL's CLIE was an excellent experience. I got all the flexibility one usually receives from a distance course but more importantly got a lot of one-on-one time with my personal course tutor. She was great with accommodating my busy schedule and always had insightful comments to help me improve my Dutch. If I ever need to improve my language skills in the future I know where to look." [Bob Tiegs, university student, US]
"The online course in Early Modern Dutch was extremely helpful for my research. Although it is taught online, it is very well-structured, with clearly defined exercises and drills. Rather than a straight translation course, the exercises are designed to draw the reader's attention to specific problems of translation and ambiguities in the assigned text. This is very helpful for anyone working directly with early modern sources. The instructor's vast scholarly knowledge and patience were great assets. I highly recommend it." [university professor, US]
"It has been a wonderful experience to participate in the online Dutch courses - fun and a convenient way of learning a new foreign language. The Skype lessons are very important to me since it happens very often that learners of a foreign language often lack the self-confidence to carry out a conversation with native speakers, because they simply lack the exposure to speak the foreign language much in a traditional classroom setting. I highly recommend this high-quality course to everyone who is interested to learn to speak 'Nederlands' from a very qualified native language teacher!" [Damien Ng, editor, Singapore]
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Course information last modified: 30 Nov 2022, 16:01